Recap: Spurs 84, Lakers 82

Putting it in perspective: OK, so the Spurs aren’t exactly crushing the opposition. They’ve already had four games come down to the final seconds, and they’ve won all four — an unsustainable rate over the course of a full season. For now, however, things are going their way, and it’s happening at less than full strength.

Player of the game: Tony Parker finally bounced back after an illness and a string of mediocre games with 19 points and seven assists, both teams highs. But it was Tim Duncan, continuing to play like he’s a decade younger, who carried the Spurs yet again with 18 points, nine rebounds, four blocks, four assists and zero turnovers. He scored two difficult baskets in the final two minutes, a long jump shot off a pump fake and a running hook over Pau Gasol after taking Dwight Howard off the dribble. Duncan also played a key role in holding L.A.’s twin towers to a combined 8 for 19 from the floor (see below).

Play of the game: Twitter’s NBA aficionados were abuzz just before the Spurs’ final possession, wondering what Gregg Popovich would cook up with his team trailing by one. They weren’t disappointed as Danny Green, covered by Kobe Bryant, set a quick screen in the paint on Pau Gasol before running off a pick from Tim Duncan for an open 3 that put the Spurs up two. Parker said afterward that Popovich specifically targeted Bryant’s tendency to linger in the lane. And true to form, he apparently didn’t even congratulate Green on the shot. The Lakers could have used some of that guile on their final trip, instead settling for a contested 3 from Pau Gasol after Kawhi Leonard blanketed Bryant.

Continuation

* Duncan and Tiago Splitter, the tandem Spurs fans have so often clamored for but rarely get to see, earned a partnership as the latter started for just the eighth time in his NBA career. Like so many other moves Popovich has made over the years, the switch paid off in a big way as neither Gasol (10 points, 3-for-10 shooting) nor Dwight Howard (13 points, six turnovers) did much on the offensive end. Doubtful it will be a regular deployment, but for one night it worked wonders. Duncan was Duncan, and Splitter held his own on the glass with nine rebounds in 29 minutes.

* Having been run off the court by the Clippers in their previous visit to Staples Center, the Spurs were much stingier against the depleted Lakers, holding them to 41.9 percent shooting, forcing 17 turnovers and registering an 83.3 defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions). That might be good enough for the Spurs, who entered the evening 13th at 101.1, to crack the top 10 in the latter category.

* The Spurs had only eight turnovers against the Lakers after committing 61 in their previous three outings.

* Not to be an alarmist, but that’s yet another injury worry for Manu Ginobili, who was questionable with more back issues. He entered the season raving about how great he felt but has yet to look it — particularly last night, when he went 1 for 8 and sat for most of the second half. Ginobili is now shooting 40 percent with 2.8 turnovers per game, the worst figures of his career. He has recorded just one game score above 10, the baseline for an average performance, according to BasketballReference.com.